Brussels, 14/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 14 June, the Council of Ministers of the EU decided to extend the EU maritime operation off the Somali coast (EUNAVFOR Atalanta) for a further two years (until December 2012). It also decided to approve the extension of two other missions being carried out in the framework of Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The Council gave the go-ahead to an extension in the autumn for the mission's anti-piracy operation (the EU's first naval operation) eastwards, in an effort to take the zone in which the pirates operate, better into consideration. Ministers also approved, without debate, a technical extension, until September, of the EU police mission in the Congo (EUPOL DR Congo), whose mandate expires on 30 June. The decision regarding possible extension of this mission was due to be taken on the basis of a strategic review currently being carried out by the EU. The Council also extended by a year, until 30 June 2011, the mandate for the integrated EU rule of law mission in this country (EUJUST LEX), by approving the launch of a limited number of activities, directly in this country. So far, apart from a few pilot projects in the rule of law domain, the mission's activity will be limited to training Iraqi judges and police officers in EU member states (EUROPE 9779). On Tuesday 8 June, the Council decided to extend the mandate for the EU rule of law mission in Kosovo (EULEX) by two years. So far, this has been a single EU operation in which US experts have also participated (A.By./transl.fl)